Baltimore Technologies Scares Off
Customers With Profit Warning

LONDON -- The latest trading statement from Baltimore Technologies PLC illustrates a sobering reality for young technology companies: Warnings about disappointing results can scare away customers.

Fran Rooney, chief executive officer of the maker of security software that authenticates the identity of online trading partners, says the warning Baltimore issued five working days before the end of the first quarter gave potential customers cold feet. As a result, he says in an interview, several customers deferred major contracts,...